Statement by the Press Secretary

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice announced today the appointment of Torkel L. Patterson as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asian Affairs, National Security Council staff, effective February 12.

Prior to joining the National Security Council staff, Mr. Patterson concurrently served as President, North Asia Division, President of Raytheon Japan, and Senior Country Manager for Taiwan for Raytheon International, Inc. from 1998-2000. Before that, he headed a small business development consulting firm based in Honolulu from 1994-1998 and concurrently was a senior associate of the Pacific Forum, CSIS. Mr. Patterson served as Director of Asian Affairs, National Security Council staff, from 1991-1993, and as Senior Director for Japan in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Department of Defense, from 1988-1991.

A retired naval officer, Mr. Patterson is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Tsukuba, in Ibaraki, Japan. A native of Seal Beach, California, Mr. Patterson claims Hawaii as his home state. He and his wife, Susan, have one son and one daughter.